# Timeline of Syracuse, Sicily

The following is a timeline of the history of the city of Syracuse, Sicily, Italy. Syracuse was the main city of Sicily from 5th century BCE to 878 CE.

## Prior to 17th century

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* 8th C. BCE – Settlement established by Corinthian Greeks.
* 663 BCE - Founded the settlement of Akrai.
* 643 BCE - Founded the settlement of Casmenae.
* 6th C. BCE – Greek Theatre of Syracuse built.
* 598 BCE - Founded the settlement of Kamarina.
* 498–491 BCE - Hippocrates of Gela threatened the independence of Syracuse.
* 491–478 BCE - Gelon is tyrant of Syracuse.
* 480 BCE - Gelon defeats Carthage at the Battle of Himera.
* 415–413 BCE – Syracuse besieged by Greek forces.
* 397 BCE - Siege of Syracuse (397 BC)
* 343 BCE - Siege of Syracuse (343 BC)
* 311-309 BCE - Siege of Syracuse (311–309 BC)
* 287 BCE – Birth of mathematician Archimedes (approximate date).
* 278 BCE - Siege of Syracuse (278 BC)
* 214 BCE – Siege of Syracuse (213–212 BC) by Roman forces.
* 44 BCE – People of Syracuse (and Sicily) gain Roman citizenship.
* 2nd–4th C. CE – Roman Catholic diocese of Siracusa established.
* 3rd C. CE – Death of bishop Marciano di Siracusa [it].
* 278–280 CE – Syracuse sacked by Franks.
* 304 – Death of Christian St. Lucia Of Syracuse during the Diocletianic Persecution.
* 535 – Syracuse taken by Belisarius of the Byzantine Empire.
* 668 – 15 September: Assassination of Byzantine emperor Constans II.
* 827-828 - Siege of Syracuse (827–828).
* 877–878 – Siege of Syracuse (877–878) by Aghlabid forces.
* 1088 – Syracuse besieged by forces of Roger I of Sicily.
* 1140 – Earthquake.
* 1239 – Castello Maniace built.
* 1397 – Palazzo Montalto built on Ortygia island.
* 1448 – Unrest.
* 1542 – Earthquake.

## 17th–19th centuries

* 1608 – Caravaggio paints "Burial of St. Lucy" in the Chiesa di Santa Lucia alla Badia [it].
* 1633 – Palazzo del Vermexio [it] built.
* 1673 – Porta Ligny (gate) built.
* 1693 – 1693 Sicily earthquake.
* 1710 – 9 November: Naval Battle of Syracuse (1710) fought near city during the War of the Spanish Succession.
* 1753 – Cathedral of Syracuse built.
* 1757 – Earthquake.
* 1779 – Palazzo Beneventano del Bosco rebuilt.
* 1790 – Maritime navigation school established.
* 1847 - Fountain of Arethusa remodelled into current form
* 1854 – Archbishop's Palace [it] built.
* 1860 – 1 August: Forces of Garabaldi arrive in city.
* 1861 – Population: 19,590.
* 1862 – Syracuse Chamber of Commerce established.
* 1865 – Province of Syracuse created.
* 1867 – Biblioteca comunale (library) founded.
* 1870 – Gazzetta di Siracusa newspaper begins publication.
* 1871
** Siracusa railway station opens.
** Ferrovia Messina-Siracusa [it] (railway) begins operating.
* 1880 – Tamburo newspaper begins publication.
* 1881 - Population: 21,739.
* 1886
** Siracusa–Gela–Canicattì railway (railway) begins operating.
** Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Siracusa (museum) opens.
* 1892 – Stazione di Siracusa Marittima [it] (train station) opens at the Port of Syracuse [it].
* 1897
** Teatro Comunale (Syracuse) [it] (theatre) opens.
** Population: 25,740.

## 20th century

* 1907 – Fontana di Diana [it] (fountain) installed in Piazza Archimede.
* 1911 – Population: 40,835.
* 1915 – Ferrovia Siracusa-Solarino [it] (railway) begins operating.
* 1920 – Giornale di Siracusa newspaper in publication.
* 1924
** 13 August: Benito Mussolini visits city.
** A.S. Siracusa (football club) formed.
* 1928 – Strada statale 115 Sud Occidentale Sicula (Trapani-Syracuse roadway) opens.
* 1932 – Stadio Nicola De Simone (stadium) opens in Santa Lucia [it].
* 1934 – Palazzo delle Poste (post office) built.
* 1938
** Stazione di Targia [it] industrial railway station begins operating.
** Monumento ai Caduti italiani d'Africa [it] construction begins at Piazza dei Cappuccini.
* 1941 – Bombing of Syracuse during World War II begins.
* 1943: 9–10 July: City taken by British forces.
* 1948 – Bellomo Palace Regional Gallery opens.
* 1950 – Augusta-Priolo petrochemical complex begins operating near city.
* 1951 – Population: 66,090.
* 1953
** Madonna delle Lacrime [it] (weeping statue) allegedly occurs, according to tradition.
** Syracuse Commonwealth War Graves Commission Cemetery established near city.
* 1960
** Regata internazionale Siracusa-Malta [it] (race) begins.
** Syracuse Aquarium [it] opens (approximate date).
* 1961 – Population: 83,205.
* 1963 – Archivio di Stato di Siracusa (state archives) active.
* 1990 – 13 December: 1990 Carlentini earthquake occurs.
* 1991 – Population: 125,941.
* 1994 – Santuario della Madonna delle Lacrime (Syracuse) [it] built.
* 1996 – U.S. Siracusa (football club) active.
* 1999
** Compagnia dei pupari Vaccaro-Mauceri [it] (puppet theatre) established.
** Giambattista Bufardeci [it] becomes mayor.

## 21st century

* 2005 – Syracuse and the Rocky Necropolis of Pantalica designated an UNESCO World Heritage Site.
* 2008 – Roberto Visentin becomes mayor.
* 2009
** April: G8 Ambiente [it] meeting of environmental leaders held in city.
** Pista ciclabile Rossana Maiorca [it] (bike path) opens.
* 2013
** June: Italian local elections, 2013 held.
** 20 September: 400+ refugees of the Syrian Civil War arrive at port of Syracuse.
** Giancarlo Garozzo [it] becomes mayor.
** Siracusa Calcio football club active.
** Population: 118,644.
* 2015 – Regional Libero consorzio comunale di Siracusa [it] created (replacing Province of Syracuse).